Workshop on seed programme inaugurated
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 28 2012:
A two-day regional workshop on seed programme for North Eastern Hill States was inaugurated today at ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Lamphelpat.
The workshop organised under the aegis of Directorate of ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya was attended by delegates from the Hill states of North East.
The inaugural function of the workshop was graced by Home Minister Gaikhangam; Commissioner of Horticulture, JC Ramthanga; Director of Seed Research Directorate, Mau, S Rajendra Prasad; Dr SV Ngachan, Director, ICAR Complex, Umiam as the chief guest, guests of honour and president respectively.
Speaking at the inaugural function, State's Home Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the Tribal Affairs and Horticulture & Soil Conservation, emphasised on the need to increase food production in order to meet the daily requirement of increasing households and individuals.
Stressing on the need to set up a seed village where quality seeds would be preserved, the minister expressed that setting up such seeds village would go a long way in achieving the much needed quality seeds production and sufficient, if not surplus, production of food items.
Director of ICAR Research Complex, Umiam, Dr SV Ngachan observed that the hill states of NE including Mizoram and Manipur recorded large scale production of food grains in 2011 adding that 80 percent of seeds requirement were met to farmers.
The Director further stressed on the need for better coordination between public and private sectors in meeting the seeds requirement.
JC Ramthanga, Commissioner of Horticulture, said most of the people depend in agriculture and horticulture for livelihood while adding that quality seeds are necessary to meet the increasing demand of the ever increasing population.
Joint Director of ICAR, Manipur Centre, Dr L Prakash said quality seeds have great role to usher in green revolution in the region while adding that the seminar has been organised to set into motion another green revolution throughout the North Eastern hill states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura including Sikkim.